Why Me?

7: Interruptions

Art by Nixakimbo
Julia's Pov:

Zola led me to a room I had been in only a hand full of times. It was the room with James's Cryo chamber in it. Just looking at it made my skin crawl. How could humans treat another human so harshly, especially someone who is and was as kind as James?

I looked around the room, my eyes landed on a folder sitting on the desk that was tucked away in the corner of the room.

" You may grab it." Zola suddenly said after seeing my eyes on the papers. I walked over and picked it up, opening the front of it and looking at the first page. I scanned the first page looking down the long list of accomplishments he had successfully gotten over the many years of being here.

I flipped to the next page and as I was something fell out of it. I looked down at the floor and saw a downsides picture. I bent down and picked it up, turning it over slowly before smiling to myself. It was a picture of James before he turned into the Winter Soldier. He was just as handsome as today, minus the long hair and bigger build, and metal arm. He looked, happy, not scared or in fear of what was about to happen to him, he looked hopeful.

As Doctor Zola was turning knobs and flipping switches on a control bored I slid the picture into my pocket for safe keeping." Why are we here?" I asked Zola after placing the folder back on the desk and turning to face him.

" The Asset, or Soldier, is going back under Cryo freezing in seven days, we must prepare him for that." I felt my heart stop." Back under, for how long?" Zola looked over at me, his expression showed no feeling." Two weeks, or longer."

I had to force myself to take a breath after hearing what he said." Oh, yes." I say, trying to keep myself calm and collected." I will need you to prepare him for this, there is a list of things to do around this mess somewhere. If you could find it please." I nodded and looked around the desk and tables surrounding the chamber.

Zola just kept flipping switches and turning knobs that would make things in the room change, such as changing the temperature in the room or Cryo chamber. I just kept looking for the list as my mind wondered to James.

After looking through folder after folder I finely found it." Is this it?" I asked handing the paper to Zola." Yes, that is. You will need to complete all these things my next Tuesday." I nodded before asking if there was anything else I needed to do." No, but thank you." I nodded and made my escape.

I was walking down the halls of the bunker reading the list when someone called my name. I turned around to see Radburn running towards me." Julia." He panted once he made it to me." Yes?" I asked, then fear overtook me after seeing the blood on his hands." He needs you." I pushed past him and ran down the hallway to the training room.

I heard groans and screaming coming from inside once I got the the large steel door." Let me in." I commanded the guard." He is unstable." He warned me after opening the door." I know, that's why I'm here." I walked past them and into the room. There was a man up against the wall holding his arm as he whimpered, another laying on his back unconscious, and then there was the reason for all the blood on Radburns hands. I felt my stomach turn when I saw a man, laying on the ground, his skull caved in and a puddle of blood around his head. I looked up and saw James standing with his back to me, blood dripping from his metal fingers. I took in a shaky breath before slowly opening the iron bar door and stepping inside.

There were soldiers and doctors surrounding the cell, watching with concern as I walked in and approached James. I had to mentally scold myself every time I called him James outside of his cell. It was dangerous, no one could know about the connection between James and I. He could be seriously punished for what I allow. And that's what scares me.